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Voters and Palmer turn from LNP

Kym Agius

Voters and the Liberal National Party's (LNP) biggest donor, Clive Palmer, appear to have turned against the Queensland government and its jobs and services purge.

A ReachTel poll of 1200 Queenslanders, commissioned by a public service union, found 60 per cent thought the cuts had gone too far.

Only 33 per cent thought Premier Campbell Newman was doing a good or very good job, with 52 per cent saying his performance was poor or very poor.

Only 38 per cent said they would put the LNP as their first preference, and 56 per cent said they were now less likely to vote for the party at the next election.

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The government is out to save $4 billion over three years and is expected to announce a total of 20,000 public servant retrenchments in the September 11 budget to help turn around the books.

Together state secretary Alex Scott urged the government to abandon its course.

"These polls are a clear wake-up call for the government," he told reporters in Brisbane.

Mr Scott also confirmed Mr Palmer approached the union to donate to its counselling and advice service for public servants whose jobs are cut.

Mr Palmer distanced himself further from the LNP on Thursday after a fortnight of public stoushes, announcing he would no longer seek preselection for the party in the next federal election.

The premier suggested Mr Palmer is the Labor Party's "new best friend" and would start donating to them instead.

Mr Newman apologised for the anxiety job cuts were having on public servants but said they are victims of over-hiring by the previous Labor government.

"Unfortunately we are the ones who are cleaning up Anna Bligh's mess," he told parliament.

"We get the pooper scooper out every day of the week. We have to make these tough decisions."

The government announced more jobs and services could be on the chopping block, under a review of the government's air services.

The review could see all the government's air-wing assets, such as the government's jet, its five Emergency Rescue helicopters and police choppers sold off.

United Voice state secretary Garry Bullock says 44 Emergency Management Queensland jobs are now at risk.

The workers, based in Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns, deliver organs for transplant patients, transfer patients between hospitals and during the 2011 floods winched to safety more than 100 people stranded on their rooftops.

Getting rid of them would be breaking the government's promise not to cut back on frontline services, Mr Bullock said.

"If these guys aren't frontline staff, I don't know who the hell is," he told reporters in Brisbane.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls denied the airwing review would result in any job losses.

"I made it abundantly clear on numerous occasions today that frontline services would not be adversely impacted by a review into government air services," he said.

"We are actually seeking to increase the number of flying hours, while ensuring services are delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible."